What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a condition characterized by extreme mood swings. These mood swings usually affect behavior, judgment, sleep patterns, energy level, and thinking, leading to functional impairment. It is a lifelong condition, but symptoms vary and can be managed with treatment.
What are the common symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder causes people to experience emotional highs, called mania or hypomania, and lows, called depression.
During a manic state, people with bipolar disorder may feel energetic or euphoric. In a depressive state, they may feel tired, lethargic, or sad.
Mania is at least one week or more of euphoric mood, irritability, and high energy accompanied by at least three of the following symptoms:
- Elevated mood
- Increased energy levels
- Decreased need for sleep
- Increased or rapid speech
- Uncontrollable racing thoughts or a flight of ideas
- Becoming easily distracted
- Impulsive or risky behavior, including reckless driving, extreme spending, or sexual promiscuity
Psychotic symptoms like hallucinations or delusions may accompany severe manic episodes. Hypomania involves milder manic symptoms that persist for at least four days and do not majorly affect one’s ability to function, work, or care for oneself.
Depression is at least two weeks of a depressed mood and/or loss of interest or pleasure accompanied by at least five of the following symptoms:
- Persistent sadness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite, including significant weight loss or gain
- Sleep disturbances, including difficulty falling or staying asleep, excessive sleep, or reduced quality of sleep
- Fatigue
- Feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy
- Trouble concentratin
- Suicidal thoughts, including recurrent thoughts of death or self-harm
Mixed episodes typically present a combination of manic and depressive symptoms simultaneously.
How is bipolar disorder diagnosed?
A mental health professional, including a psychiatrist or psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, can diagnose and treat bipolar disorder.
A mental health professional will review symptoms, mood patterns, and medical and personal history. During the evaluation and diagnosis process, your clinician may ask you to track symptoms and complete mood scales or questionnaires. Lab work may be requested to exclude other conditions.
What are the types of bipolar disorder?
- Bipolar I disorder is characterized by at least one manic episode and may be accompanied by periods of hypomania or depression.
- Bipolar II disorder includes the presence of one or more periods of depression and at least one hypomanic episode, without any manic or mixed episodes.
- Cyclothymia or cyclothymic disorder are chronic, fluctuating mood swings with periods of hypomania and depression lasting at least one year for children and adolescents and two years for adults.
What are common treatments for bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a treatable condition, and early intervention can significantly improve symptoms. Common treatments include:
- Medication may be considered for people with bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers, like Lithium, Valproate, and Lamotrigine, and atypical antipsychotics, like Seroquel (quetiapine) and Abilify (aripiprazole), can treat and prevent mood swings and help improve daily functioning.
- Therapy is tailored to the patient’s needs and can help build coping skills, communication, and self-awareness to manage stress and emotions. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help identify and challenge negative thinking patterns. Other types of therapy include family therapy, supportive therapy, and psychodynamic therapy.
